DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 056 872 SE 012 584

AUTHOR Irwin, HarrietTITLE Birds of Prey.INSTITUTION Madison Public Schools, Wis.PUB DATE [71]NOTE 22p.

EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29DESCRIPTORS Animal Science; Audiovisual Aids; Ecology;

*Environmental Education; Filmstrips; *InstructionalMaterials; *rIntermediate Grades; *Teaching Guides;*Wildlife Management

IDENTIFIERS ESEA Title III

ABSTRACTIntroducing students to different hawks and owls

found in 'asconsin and building a basis for appreciation of thesebirds in their own environment is the purpose of this teacher'sguide. Primarily geared for upper elementary and junior high grades,the concepts presented could be used in conjunction with the study of

ecology. A filmstrip is employed to increase the student's knowledgeand understanding of the essential role of these animals. A crucialpoInt emphasized is the necessity for proper habitat in order for the

birds of prey to survive, for if this habitat is changed ordestroyed, the birds will be eliminated. Additional topics include

bird charazteristics, food requirements, life cycles, value of thebirds in a natural community, and effects of man. The filmstrip is

explained in its entirety, illustrating each frame and itsaccompanying script. Bracketed paragraphs provide the teacher withadditional information, Also included are charts showing birds of

prey found in Wisconsin, build-up of DDT residues in osprey eggs,abundance of breeding animals in a square mile, and resourcematerials. Two magazine articles about bald eagles and peregrinefalcons are reproduced. The filmstrip is not inclucled. cr"1 work wasprepared under an ESEA Title III contract. pn4

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"BIRDS OF PREY"

Section I: Information for the Teacher

A. Objectives and Suggested Use of Materials Page 1

B. Resource Materials

1. Additional information on hawks and owls Page 2

2. Birds of prey found in Wisconsin Page 3

3. Chart Build-up of DDT Residues Page 4

4. List of other resource materials Page 5

5. Article on bald eagle Page 6

6. Article Greatest Flyer Faces Extinction Page 7

7. Chart Abundance of Breedinz Animals Page 8

Section II: Script for Filmstrip

"BIRDS OF PREY" Page 9

The filmstrip and guidebook were produced by the Instructional Materials Center,Madison Public Schools, Administration Building, 545 West Dayton Street,Madison, Wisconsin 53703.

The work presented or reported herein was performed pursuant to a grant Iromthe U.& Office of Education, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

Objectives

It is the purpose of this set to introduce students to different hawks andowls found in Wisconsin and to build a basis for appreci.ation of these birds intheir own environment.

Many of our birds of prey, as well as other predators, are in a precariousposition today because of man's lack of knowledge and understanding of the essen-tial role of these animals.

A crucial point which should be emphas;zed is the necessity for properhabitat in order for the bird to survive. If this habitat is chang ,d or destroyed,the bird will be eliminated.

Basic OutlineOMSK,

1. Characteristics of birds of preya. Structuresb. Food

2. Habitat requirements3. Food pyramid4. Life cycles

a. Great hevnedb. Red-taLLea hawk

5. Value of the birds in a natural community6. Effects of man

Suggeste Uses

The slides and script are primarily geared for uppe-7 elementary g: idesand in:.1.dle school. The c )ncepts presented could be used in connect 071 withstudy of e the inter-elations of plants and animals.

4

Additional information on the hawks and owls in the filmstrip.

Hawks:INIMMINIMMINUM

1.

Owls:

Red-tailed hawk

broad, rounded wings, fan shaped tailfemale slightly larger than malewing spread is 4 or more feetfood: mice (primary source), rabbits, squirrels, reptiles, small birdswide distribution in U.S.a permanent resident in Wisconsin

2. Sparrow hawk or Kestrel

narrow pointed wings and long taildistinct facial patternfemale larger than malealmost a 2 foot wing spreadnests in artificial or natural

nook of a building)food: grasshoppers and other insectshas the habit of hovering over preydistribution open field and meadowstends to ntgrate south, but a few will

the winter

cavities (hole

1. Great horned owl

in a tree, bird house,

(primary sources), rod I s

remain in Wisconsin during

largest common owl in U.S.4 foot or more wing spreadprominent "ear" tuftswhite throat patchpowerful and aggressive predatorfood: cottontail rabbit (primary source), squirrels, mice and rats,

birds, snakes, weasels, skunks, porcupines (1)distribution forests and swampspermanent resident in Wisconsin

2. Saw-whet owl

smallest eastern nocturnal owl, little larger than a robinlong broad wingsnests in natural or man-made 6avitiesfood: mice and other small mammalsdistribution coniferous forestsan erratic winter migrant from the north

2

Hawks:

Birds of Prey Found in Wisconsin

Red-tailed hawk 9. Cooper's hawkRed-shouldered hawk 10. OspreyBroad-winged hawk *11. Gyrfalcon

1.2.3.4. Rough-legged hawk *12. Peregrine falcon

*5. Swainson's hawk 13. Pigeon hawk*6. Ferruginous hawk 14. Sparrow hawk

7. Goshawk 15. Marsh hswk8. Sharp-shinned hawk

Owls:

1. Barn owl 6. Long-eared owl2. Great horned owl 7. Short-eared owl3. Snowy owl 8. Saw-whet owl4. Burrowing owl *9. Boreal owl5. Barred owl *10. Hawk owl

Eagles:

1. Bald eagle2. Golden eagle

* denotes rare to very rare

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Resource Material

Bibliography

Magazines

1. Audubon magazine (National Audubon Society) Vol. 70 #5Sept.-Oct, 1968."The Hunting Hawk" by L. Brown and D. Amadon.

2. National Geographic Vol. 136 #1 July, 1969."The Endangered Osprey" by R. T. P.?terson.

3. Scientific American 216 (3): 24-31."Toxic Substances and Ecological Cycles" by G. Woodwell.

Books

1. Austing, G. R. and Holt, Jr., J.B. The World of the GreatHorned Owl. J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia and New York, 1966.

2. Austing, G. B. and Holt, Jr., J.B. The World of the Red-taileci Hawk.J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia and New York, 1964.

.3. Broley, M. J. Eagle Man. Pellegrini and Cudahy Publishers,New York, 1952.

4. Russell, F. Hawk in the Sky, Holt, -Rinehart and Winston,New York, 1965.

Visual aids available from Madison Public Schools IMC

Filmstrips Owls and Hawks; from filmstrip series"Birds You Should Know"Produced by National Film Board of Canada.Classification of Living Birds; from filmstrip series"Birds of Prey"Produced by Encyclopedia Britannica.

Film loops (Super Eight) Osprey Bird of Prey;Produced by Walt Disney.

Film Nature's Birds of Prey, Instructional Materials Center,3374 film library, Madison Public Schools.

Source: Wisconsin State Journal

autittbon Director Reports:

aid Eagle NearsExtinction, ThanksTo Pesticide Use

By STANLEY M. BROWN

EVERGLADES PARK, Fla.(UPI) The bald eagle, sym-bol of America's majesty andmight, is eating itself towardextinction.

It isn't a high cholesterolcount that is slowly killing offthe magnificent bird that BenFranklin, Thomas Jeffersonand John Adair's made 'hefocal point of tbe Great Seekof the United States in 1782.

"Unless we take steps toprevent it, pesticides DDTin particular will eventu-ally e r a dic a te the balde a fg 1 e," predicts AlexanderSPrunt IV, the research direc-tor of the National AudubonSociety.

Florida and Alaska are thelast two strongholds of thebald eagle in the UnitedStates. Because of Alaska's"superfavorable," habitat, thebald eagle is in no immediatedanger of extinction there.

Such is not the case in Flor-ida, where the bald eagle pop-ulation is now estimated at200-250 pairs and is still de-clining. In 1966, Florida hadover 300 pairs of bald eagles.

"The two coastal areas arein great danger," Sprunt said,"because their reproductionrate is way downless than 30per cent. They are barelyholding their own in the LakeOkeechobee to Orlando area.AThe Everglades National

POk has the healthiest baldeagle population in the United

te I

Bald Eagle

States, except possibly south-east Alaska," Sprunt said.

There are about 55 pairs ofbald eagles in the EvergladesNational Park, according topark naturalist William Rob-ertson. Ile estimates their re-production rate is "close to 60per cent."

To maintain a stable popu-latio n, Sprunt said eaglesmust have a reproduction rateof 50 per cent. "This meansthat ball the nests must pro-duce an eaglet each year."

Sprunt said there are fourmajor factors pushing thebald eagle toward extinction.

Sprunt said pesticide pollu-tion and the str-.:ing of eaglesby unknowing or uncaringpersons are the most serious.The other two causes are hab-itat destruction and humanpopulation pressure.

Source: Wisconsin State Journal

tareatestFlyer Faces Extinction

By BILL STOKES(State Journal outdoor Writer)

The peregrine falcon, thegreatest flyer to grace the skiesof Wisconsin, has been gone fromthe state for a dozen years, andnow there is concern that thefastest of all winged creaturesmay be taking its final NorthAmerican curtain call.

The peregrine, also called theduck hawk, is the latest nomineeto the Department of the Interi-or's list of "endangered spec-ies." The purpose of placing thebird on the list is to notify thepublic that special protection isrequired if the high-speed preda-tor is to survive.

THERE WAS a day when theperegrine nested in Wisconsinin Dane County at Fer! y Bluff,along the Mississippi Riverbluffs, and on the rock cliffsalong Lake Michigan.

N. R. Barger, wildlife biolo-gist with the Conservation Divi-sion, said that the last nest inthe Ferry Bluff area was de-stroyed by egg collectors about18 years ago.

The peregrine is prized by fal-coners for its speed arid abilityin "s t o o pin g" from greatheights and bagging other birdsin flight. Prior to tighter protec-tion controls, it was common fotpersons providing birds to fol-coners to rob peregrine nests.

RESEARCHERS with the Bu-reau of Sport Fisheries andWildlife say that the peregrinefalcon, like the bald eagle, isprobably a victim of pesticides,urban growth, nesting site dis-turbance, noise and air pollu-tion.

Barger, who is one of thes t a te 's most knowledgeable"birders," said. "The last pere-grine I saw in Wisconsin was 12

jeers ago in the Ferry Bluff:rea. Fifteen or so years ago, itwas not uncommon to see themin Dane Comity.

"The peregrine once migratedthrough Wisconsin in the falland spring and was commonlysighted from the end of Marchthrough mid-May and again inSeptember and October. We arenot seeing these migratory birdsin recent years."

THE PEREGRINE is slightlylarger than a pigeon. Adults, aredark bluish-slate barred withblack on the back, and creamy

7

PEREGRINEFALCONS

buff barred with black below.The cheeks are also black.

It nests in remote cliff areas,the female laying a clutch of sixmaroon eggs. The young maturein two years.

ABUNDANCE OF BREEDING ANIMALS ON 1 SQUARE MILE(Source: Santa Rita Range Reserve, Arizona. Leopold, 1933)

Coyote 1

Great horned owl 2

Red-tailed hawk 2

Blacktail rabbit 10

Hognosed and spotted skunk 15

Roadrunner 20

Cattle (over 1 year old) 25

Scaled quail 25

Cottontail 25

Allen's Jackrabbit 45

Gambel quail 75

Kangaroo rat 1,300

Wood rat 6,400

Mice and other rodents 18,000

11

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Prepared by Harriet Irwinin cooperation with the

Local Materials Project, ESEA Title IIIMadison Public Schools

Mary Lou Peterson, DirectorRon Austin, Photographer

1

Colophon

2Title Fn-

SPECIAL NOTE:

Please do not judge thequality of the '-eautiful full-color picture,. in the film-strip by the appearance ofthe black-and- white photosin this guid I Obviously,there is no comparisonb e t we e n full-color andblack and white pictures.

3Credit FramePrepared by Harriet Irwin in cooperation with theLocal Materials Project, ESEA Title IIIMadison Public SchoolsMary Lou Peterson, DirectorRon Austin, Photographer

4Among the most magnificent birds in North Americaare hawks, owls, and eagles the birds of prey.

FA list of hawks, owls, and eagles found in]L Wisconsin is included.

5Birds of prey differ in size, shape and requirementsfor habitat. (Picture: Saw7whet owl)

[Habitat: an area where an animal lives.

mimmiaum

6Because these birds are predators, and eat otht,animals, they are equipped for hunting. (Picture:Sparrow hawk)

[Predator: an a' -11 whose food consists of 1other animals.Prey: an animal w -lc., is taken by a predatoras food.

7Depending on the size ofinclude rabbits, squirrels, sor insects; but by far tl7emice and other rodents. (E

,e hunr, the prey mayall bi- is, frogs, snakesost i-lportant prey are,ure: Great horned owl)

8Predators rely on powerful, sharp-clawed feet forseizing and killing the prey.. . .

9. . . and hooked beaks for tearing and ripping.

10Talons and beaks enable the predatory birds to playa vital role in nature. Eir 's of prey feed upon smalleranimals and keep them from overpopulating an areaand destroying the vegelation.

I

11After capturing the prey, owls eat the whole animal.The mass of undigested hair and boy- is stored inthe CIop and then regurgitated. The bon _ 6 found in suchregurgitated owl pellets are an important way toidentify the food source. Hawks cast ) pellets also,but less frequently than owls, for r of the undi-gestible parts hair of mammals, Wil s of insects,feathers of birds are removed befc e the prey iseaten. This is often done at a "pl_Icking post".

In winter, pine groves or plantations in thecountry are likely areas to look for the harddry pellets of owls.

12Contained in one owl pellet were the skull and bonesof a meadow mouse, a good food source because ofits abundance.

[See teacher note, frame 21]

---arammiinThrough evolution the predator species have developedskills in hunting . . .

11111.110111MMINIETWINIIMMII

14. . . while the prey species have developed techniquesfor escaping the predators.

Examples of techniques:Camouflage, sharp senses, eyes placedon the sides of the head so the animalhas a large field of vision.

Be sure to notice the rabbit under the shrubs.

15Most birds of prey hunt from a perch a commandingbranch, pole or ;rocky crag and survey the surround-ing landscape for food.

.0

16Hawks are diurnal and hunt primarily by sight ahighly developed sense. Some hawks have eyes up to',ight times as powerful as :Inman eyes.

[Diurnal: active during the dayl

17Owls, on the other hand, hunt more by sound becausethey are nocturnal. Acute hearing helps locate the prey.In addition, the feathers of the wings are constructedto allow the owl to fly silently.

Nocturnal; active at night. Most owls hunt atnight using a highly developed sense of hear-ing. Large unevenly-shaped ear cavities re-ceive sound waves through elongated, exter-nal slits from eye to throat. This structureprovides acute hearing and unerring abilityto locate prey in darkness. For further in-formation see; Audubon Nature Bulletins, Na-tional Audubon Society, 1130 Fifth Avenue,New York, New York.

18Data available now indicates that unsuccessful attackson prey are more frequent than successful ones.

19Habitat for birds of prey may include open country,dense forest, marsh, or swamp but it will always bea place which meets the bird's requirements; food,water, cover, places to loaf, and a breeding site. Areasnot too heavily populated are essential if a bird ofprey is to survive.

20Here the pines provide cover and winter roosting sitesfor owls. They can find an adequate source of food inthe open meadow. The farmer who owns this landappreciates the value of owls in keeping down thepopulation of mice and other rodents. How could youtell whether owls are using such an area?

15 [See teacher's note, frame 1111 n

BREEDING ANIMALS ON I SQUARE MILE

Coyote

Birds of prey 4

Skunks 15

Cattle 25

Rabbits 80

Birds 120

Rodents 25,700

21Signs a the prey species are abundant in the rrMice and other prey are prol _lc breeders ancover-populate an area if no+ held in check .predator.

Reproductive potential of prey species:meadow mouse breeds throughout theyear, 6-7 young per litter. Female mate.immediately after birth of one litter.Young mature in three weelai.gray squirrel 2 litters per year, 3-4young pc)r litter.rabbit 2-3 litters per year, 3-6 youngPer litter.

"ow.ouldthe

22This chart is from a study made in Arizona. In spite ofthe large number of prey species, one square mile wasenough to support only five predatory animals. Con-sider that each rodent needs a certain amount ofvegetation to survive. Can you imagine how muchvegetation would be needed to support 25,700 rodents?

1

The complete sheet of animal data isincluded in the packet. A copy may be

L made for e.°ch chilel.

23Large areas of dense forest and swamp are necessaryfor the nesting success -of the great horned owl. Oncold winter nights in January, it is possible to hearthe low throaty hoots of the bird, announcing the startof the mating season.

[Aggressive and powerful, this owl is the][largest common owl in the United States.

24In spite of the adverse weather, nesting begins inFebruary, often in an old hawi:- or crow nest. A month.or so later the young hatch f.;mall, downy and help-less. They remain in the nest for the r xt six toseven weeks and cannot fly until they ae ten totwelve weeks old.

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25Does it seem strange to you that the eggs are laidbefore winter is over? Most likely the eggs or youngbirds would freeze if left unprotected. What advantageis there to early nesting?

28Consider the following points;

1) The adults provide food for the young forapproximately three months after hatching.Prey is easier to find before the vegetationprovides cover,

2) The prey species (squirrels and other rodents,rabbits, ejtc.) are most numerous in the earlyspring after the first litter is born.

What difference might these factors make to the owl?(Picture: Rabbit and mouse tracks)

27In this forested area of Iowa County in southerrWisconsin, a red-tailed hawk has established a terri-tory.

28In late February or early March a suitable site islocated and nest building begins. Look for the nest inthe pine to the right.

29A flat, shallow nest is constructed from sticks andtwigs, and lined with strips of bark, grass, and a fewgreen sprigs of pine, cedar, or hemlock. Two or threeeggs are laid and incube'on occurs for about a month.

30After hatching, the young birds remain in the nest foranother four weeks. Both parents ar e kept bi.sy feedingthe fast growing offspring a diet of mic e, rabbits,squirrels, reptiles and small birds.

fr 31By June the young are almost fully grown and readyto come off the nest. They look similar to the adults,but will not breed until they are two or more years old.

A hawk raises only 2-3 offspring per year underoptimum conditions. Contrast this to preyreproduction. See frame 21 teacher's note.

32Once they leave the nest, they embark on a life whichis hazardous at best. Very few reach matu-ity. Man'sactivities as well as his lack of understanding of theimportance of predators, increase the hazards con-siderably.

33Much of the birds' habitat is being destroyed inconversions to roads, subdivisions, shopping centersand other signs of civilization. In Wisconsin thereare laws protecting the birds of prey, but if the habitatis destroyed, the birds cannot be saved. Which of thehabitat requirements mentioned In frame 19 are metin an area such as this?

[Work in progress for west side shopping center.]-

34Another of man's activities which threatens thesemagnificent birds of prey is the use of pesticides.These chemicals, designed to kill insect pests,pervade the environment and acctunulate in the bodiesof predator species, interfering with reproduction,

[See: Woodwell, G.M. "Toxic Substances

rand Ecological Cycles" Scientific Amei-18 can. Vol. 216 (3) 24-31, March, 1967.

35Those who would protect these birds from extinctionpoint to their value to man in controlling destructiveprey species.

"But for those who love wild nature the bird ofprey requires no special dafense, no justificationfor existence.

36An intense emotional satisfaction can be obtainedfrom the sight of a great bird of prey in the full beautyof its natural haunts". (Audubon. Vol.70 No.5 page 52,Sept. / Oct. 1968.)

Wild animals simply do not make good pets.They are necessary in nature and should notbe removed from their habitat.

The soaring hawk is a red-tail.

37The End.

19

A.BUNDANCE OF BREEDING ANIMALS ON 1 SQUARE MILE(Source: Santa Rita Range Reserve, Arizona, Leopold, 1933)

Coyote

Great horned owl 2

Red-tailed hawk 2

Blacktail rabbit 10

Hognosed and spotted skunk 15

Roadrunner 20

Cattle (over 1 year old) 25

Scaled quail 25

Cottontail 25

Allen's Jackrabbit 45

Gambel quail 75

Kangaroo rat 1,300

Wood rat 6,400

Mice and other rodents 4.010 000,vut,

Additional information on the hawks and owls used in the filmstrip.

Hawks:111111MOlemallamt

Owls:

1. Red-tailed hawk

broad, rounded wings, fan shaped tail.female slightly larger than malewing spread is 4 or more feetfood: mice (primary source), rabbits, squirrels, reptiles, small birdswide distribution in U.S.a permanent resident in Wisconsin

2. Sparrow hawk or Kestrel

n'.rrow pointed wings and long tailstinct facial pattern

female larger than malealmost a 2 foot wing spreadnests in artificial or natural

nook of a building)food: grasshoppers and other insectshas the habit of hovering over preydistribution open field and meadowstends to migrate south, but a few will

the winter

cavities (hole

1. rIrc.nt horned owl

in a tree, bird house,

(primary sources), rodents

remain in Wisconsin during

largest common owl in U.S.4 foot or more wing spreadprominent "ear" tuftswhite throat patchpowerful and aggressive predatorfood: cottontail rabbit (primary source), squirrels, mice and rats,

birds, snakes, weasels, skunks, porcupines (I)distribution forests and swampspermanent resident in Wisconsin

2. Saw-whet owl

smallest eastern nocturnal owls, little larger than a robinlong broad wingsnests in natural or man-made cavitiesfood: mice and other small mammalsdistribution coniferous forestsan erratic winter migrant from the north

Hawks:

Birds of Prey Found in Wisconsin

1. Red-tailed. hawk 9. Cooper's hawk2. Red shouldered hawk 10. Osprey3. Broad-winged hawk *11. Gyrfalcon4. Rough-legged hawk *12. Peregrine falcon

*5. Swainson's hawk 13. Pigeon hawk*6. Ferruginous hawk 14. Sparrow hawk

7. Goshawk 15. Marsh hawk8. Sharp-shinned hawk

Owls:

1. Barn owl 6. Long-eared owl2. Great horned owl 7. Short-eared owl3. Snowy owl 8. Saw-whet owl4. Burrowing owl *9. Boreal owl5. Barred owl *10. Hawk owl

Eagles:

1. Bald eagle2. Golden eagle

* denotes rare to very rare

22

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